JEDDAH, 14 September 2004 — Women are expected to play an active role in the first conference of Saudi intellectuals, which is to be held at King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh on Sept. 25-27.
“We expect active participation of women in the conference,” said Muhammad Rida Nasrullah, secretary-general of the advisory committee on culture.
In addition to intellectuals from Riyadh, more than 150 writers, thinkers and artists have been invited to take part in the three-day deliberations.
A special session on the “Cultural Role of Women”, chaired by former Information Minister Dr. Abdu Yamani, will offer a good opportunity for women to express their hopes and aspirations.
Female intellectuals including Dr. Aziza Al-Manie, Dr. Khairiya Al-Saggaf, Wafa Al-Subail and Dr. Hasana Al-Qenaieer will present papers on various topics. Women will participate through close-circuit television.
Referring to other activities, Nasrullah said Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi would give a lecture on “cultural issues.”
Other sessions include: Rights of intellectuals and their role in development, chaired by Dr. Rashid Al-Mubarak; Children’s culture and literature, chaired by writer Abdullah Al-Jafri; The condition of cultural institutions and their future, chaired by Dr. Bakr Baqader; Libraries and book industry, chaired by Dr. Abbas Tashkandi, professor of library science at King Abdul Aziz University.
Cultural activities and festivals is the topic of another session to be chaired by Dr. Abdullah Masri. There will be sessions on drama, painting and music.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Rabie, president of Riyadh Arts Club, and Dr. Mansour Al-Hazimi, a well-known critic, are among other prominent participants. Nasrullah expected a large turnout of intellectuals at the conference. “It will be an unprecedented event in the Kingdom’s cultural history,” he added.
The conference comes ahead of the fourth national dialogue session on youth issues scheduled to be held in the Eastern Province in November.
Faisal ibn Muammar, secretary-general of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue, told the Saudi Press Agency that a number of measures have been taken in preparation for the debate.
“The preparation for this convention requires holding youth workshops across the Kingdom, with the participation of educational, health and sports institutions to figure out the themes that young men and women would like to address,” Muammar said.
Crown Prince Abdullah, who initiated the dialogue forum, had issued instructions for the November gathering under the theme “Youth Issues, Facts and Aspirations,” Muammar said, adding that it would be attended by prominent personalities.
